Page 177 of Playing Dirty

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Because I already knew she was right.

My phone buzzed on the bed.

A message.

Mason.

you going

Short.

Like everything he did.

I stared at it longer than I meant to.

Typed:

why

Three dots.

Then:

just asking

I exhaled slightly through my nose.

That wasn’t just asking.

That was tracking.

I typed back:

yes

No extra words.

No explanation.

Hisreply came fast.

figured

And that should’ve ended it.

It didn’t.

MASON

I shouldn’t have asked.

That was the first thought.

Because I already knew the answer before I sent it.

Jace was lying on his bed across the room, scrolling.

“You’re going out?” he asked.

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